Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Stills.
Hi Joseph, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My story began in a small town in Florida called Pensacola. I was born in Orlando but moved to Pensacola when I was very young, so I don’t remember us moving. I eventually started to play a game golf, and I don’t even remember holding my first ever club so as you can imagine I must’ve been very young. My dad worked in the golf industry and so I always remember seeing a golf course or being on a golf course. My brother and I used to spend hours on hours outside hitting this little white ball across the golf course, not knowing how much of an impact it would have on our lives.
I grew up as one of only 2 black people in my class at school. I went to a catholic grade and high school, so my class size was small with only 120 students in high school and only 30 in grade school. As you can imagine, I wasn’t the most popular person, and the fact with me being black and playing golf. I was always picked on and people would always say, “why are you playing that sport?” or “you’ll never be able to play golf professionally” or “that sport is for white people, you won’t be able to pursue it.” It was disheartening, but I didn’t let that affect what I liked to do. I loved playing golf, still do to this day. It was the only time I got a chance to be by myself, it got me away from all the chatter outside my home, and I could be competitive without relying on anyone but yourself. I found peace and happiness, and I loved the way it could humble the best of players and teach you something about yourself. I also loved to win, and that was the icing on the cake for me. I also wanted to play on the PGA Tour and win, it was a big dream but something I always strived for no matter what people thought. Unfortunately, my parents didn’t have all the money to support me playing all the time, so I continued to practice and get better. I went on to play in anything I could locally since it was the cheapest thing, my parents could afford. I started to play in a program called First Tee where I went on a won so many junior events locally, I honestly couldn’t count how many I won or finished in the top 3. I started to get into bigger events like the Florida Junior Championship, but still only could play in a couple events. I kept plugging along, knowing things would change. Forward to high school, I continued to play well where I went varsity for 4 years, won multiple 9-hole and 18-hole championships around the area, won districts, and multiple first tee events locally. I even finished Top 15 in the state championship my senior year and top 3 in regionals. I worked hard on the golf course and off and I was able to get a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship and signed to play golf in college for the University of West Florida, things were looking up.
You would think college would be the best time of your life, but sometimes I guess things happen for a reason. I started to play very bad a golf. I started only 5 times in the 30-40 events that being an NCAA scholarly golf athlete at a university would give you. I tried to get better, and I worked even harder trying to get a spot in the top 5, but nothing would tend to work out. I kept trying to focus on golf but as you get older you start to realize the world is a lot bigger than you. I still remember this day like it just happened. Back in 2013 my freshman year in college, I came home to see my parents and tell them all about my college experience. I drive home, and on the front door I see a pink slip that read “foreclosure on home.” I knew then the extent of my parent’s financial situation. I was devastated, but I couldn’t let them know I was mentally distraught. I did everything in my power to help. I actually moved back in with them to help the finances, and we went from 5 different homes in 4 years. It was a lot of packing and moving, and constantly on the go. I eventually started to do odd jobs to help them out and have them not worry about me. I worked as a bar back for a bartender, worked as a teaching assistant for the university, coached for first tee after classes for 6 years, worked wedding receptions on the weekend, and did 3 paid internships just to make money and help out my family. As I am doing this, I am playing golf for the school, and I’m trying to get my degree. I also had some of the worst golf I’ve ever played in the this stretch of time, and things always seemed uphill. I was exhausted most of the time, but I still always had this dream of playing professional golf.
Fast forward to the end of my college career, I got my degree in MIS (Management Information Systems), graduated Cum Laude, had multiple minors, and started grad classes for Business Analytics. Things looked bright for my future, but I wanted something more. I wanted to play golf professionally. Not more than 1000 dollars to my name, I continued to coach First Tee to make money for myself and my family and worked at the university as a graduate assistant. My college golf career was over, and I didn’t know where to turn. I even thought about just trying to get a job and giving up on my dream. You ever feel as if a higher being is watching over you because it sure felt like it. I remember one-day grading papers of an exam for one of the classes I was an assistant for, and my professor Dr. Mukherjee gave me one of the greatest speeches I’ve ever had. He was going through dialysis, and his kidneys were failing, so I would constantly check up on him and see how he was doing. We got on the topic of my future and what I wanted to do, I told him I play golf and wanted to pursue it, but I don’t have the resources to pursue it. He told me “Joey in life, as you get older you tend to realize that you need to do the things you love with the people you love. You’ll regret not trying in life, but one thing you won’t regret is trying and giving your best. Follow your dream, and don’t let yourself get in the way.” He passed about 2 weeks later, and his funeral was on Christmas Eve. I took all the experiences I had, did some soul searching, and told myself I’m going to turn professional as a golfer.
I turned professional that summer. I was 23 with hardly any money, no credit to my name, my family financially unstable, and a broken-down car I ducted taped together for 2 years. I had a lot of work to do. I did so much research on everything, where to move down to get closer to professional golf, what jobs to find to make money and play golf, where to stay, how to build credit, and what had the best talent for golf. I jolted down the best city was Orlando. I found a job listing at Isleworth on indeed.com for outside professional staff (fancy wording for cart barn guy). I went down for an interview at this very private, unbelievable facility. I could work out there, with benefits of practicing and playing the course. The head pro gave me a call on Nov 4, and I had an interview on the 6th. I drove down, and contrary to what I thought I got the job. He needed me down in 2 weeks, and with me being naïve I said yes to the job not knowing where I would live and if my car could make that far. I remember thinking, “what are you gonna do, you have 2 weeks to move everything 6 1/2 hrs.” Well, I pushed myself into overdrive, I got a credit card, got a new car, and quit my teaching job for first tee. I found a place on craigslist with 5 other roommates with rent for 350 a month, but it had windows, locks on the door, and a gate outside the community and I thought “looks good to me”. My first day starting work was Nov 25. I got my new car the 23rd, drove down the 24th (which was the first day on my lease on the rent) slept on the floor, and went to work the next day. Looking back at this now, I can’t believe that I did all that to follow my dream. It was the first step I took, and hopefully, the next step would be a leap.
I was in a big town, with little experience to anything. My plan was the work until I had enough money to support myself fully to play golf. Central and South Florida was what we call mini tours, so I could play 1-day events in-between working to try to see if I could work my up the ranks. This is also when I started to realize this wonderful tour called the APGA tour had tournaments for minorities to play in as well. It was the best of both worlds; I could make money, and I could play golf. So, I worked 40+ hrs. a week in the sun all while practicing and playing during my time off at the course. Isleworth for those who don’t know is the golf course where Tiger Woods was a member for 15+ years. It’s the most beautiful and challenging golf course I’ve ever played. To be there where my Idol stood blew my mind not to mention not a spec of grass was cut out of place. I started to gain traction in my professional golf career, where I started to get better and better. I also saved every penny I could and saw my finances grow. My first ever professional event, I played in an APGA tour event and shot 2 rounds of 70-68. I made money on the cut line and made a whopping $200. I still have that check with my today. I worked 2 years at Isleworth all while playing, building a website and Instagram for my golf career, and started to make money. I was tired all the time, of course, but I kept plugging. I battled Covid, long hours, and constant struggle with my swing, but I continued to get better. Then in October of 2021, I made enough money to play golf full time, and I haven’t looked back since.
In Dec of 2021, I won my first-ever professional event at the Inaugural Jim Thorpe Invitational. I shot two rounds of 71-68, winning in a playoff. I was in front of Jim Thorpe, Jim Dent, and other black professional golfers. I won it in a playoff again a good golfer named Willie Mack III. I still remember this day; I was down 4 shots going into the final round. I kept thinking to myself, “this is my tournament.” I went on a fired a bogey-free 68 in high winds. The minute I finished up and signed my scorecard, we went into a playoff. Willie Mack smacks a driver, then I set up. I was so nervous, but I smacked my driver right down the middle. Willie goes first and hit it about 25 feet away from the pin. So, there I am I have 124 yards against the wind. I step up to the ball, take a deep breath, and hit the best shot of my life. It flies, going right at the pin. It lands about 5 feet away and proceeds to go within an inch of the cup. Willie misses his putt, and I have my first-ever win. It was a dream come true for me. I’ve always wanted to say I was a champion in the professional ranks, but it just doesn’t seem real to me. I worked so hard for this opportunity, and I hope to continue my dream. All the work was worth it.
Now, I am playing golf full time on and off minitours. I have 3 wins now, but I mainly focus my career on the APGA tour. I currently still am in Orlando, and I’ve been fortunate to have played well and supported myself throughout this year. I’ve been able to travel and play in big events and go to places around the country I never could when I was little. I’ve played in the Texas State Open, the John Shippen Invitational, Latin American golf Q School, and countless other events. I couldn’t do this myself, and I have so many people to thank. I’m still pursuing my dream to play on the PGA Tour, and hopefully, I can say I do in the future.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The biggest obstacles I have faced are financial struggles, lack of opportunity, and lack of resources. It definitely has not been a smooth road, but it has been the most rewarding.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a professional golfer, though I am a minitour professional golfer. I do not make millions of dollars. Tournaments that I play in currently, you have to pay for an entry fee. They vary between$100-$2000 all throughout the country. As a mini tour professional, you try and play these events to make money as you can win upwards between $1000-$50,000. There is a lot of planning involved with this, such as travel money, hotels, food, and rental cars. On top of that, if you don’t win the tournament, you might hardly make your money back. It’s a tough life as an athlete, but your ultimate goal is to make it to a big tour such as the Korn Ferry, PGA Tour, or Liv Tour.
The normal day of a professional golfer consists of working out, practicing specific areas of the game, playing golf on a golf course, and playing in tournaments. There are lots of aspects people don’t realize, such as finding tournaments to play, handling your own social media, scheduling out events throughout the country, having a physical and mental coach, working with a swing coach, and doing small things such as taxes.
I am diligent and creative, and I may not have the most efficiency when it comes to golf. But I manage myself well and learn from the opportunities that is given to me.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
The advice I have for people just starting out playing professional golf is don’t try to be perfect, and learn as much as you can from other people and write down everything that can help you. Also, talk to as many other professionals to see what tournaments you can play, and don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith. The game of golf is so complex and not well understood by many people, so you can’t always rely on people that don’t know the game. There is so many ways you can play golf without having the perfect swing and just know that hard work will get you where you need to.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.jcstillsgolf.com
- Instagram: jcstillsgolf
- Facebook: Joseph Stills
- Twitter: JStillzz1
Image Credits
Deron Williams
Vince Carter
Kirk Triplett
Adrian Stills
Justin Stills
Ryan Benson
